Federal vaccine mandates and recommendations are changing

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, met to provide recommendations on the use of vaccines and vaccine mandates for the country. Florida has become the first state to do away with mandated vaccines for children.

What risk does this mean for anyone travelling to Florida, especially when visiting Disney World or other amusement parks or areas? Also, there is confusion surrounding how to get a COVID-19 vaccine and who is eligible. The Food and Drug Administration has “approved” COVID-19 vaccines only for those age 65 and up, as well as younger people with underlying health conditions. But what if someone does want it? How can they get it?

Will Humble, Executive Director of the Arizona Public Health Association, joined “Arizona Horizon” to answer these questions and provide more insight on the future of vaccination restrictions.

COVID-19 vaccines are at the forefront of conversations because changes to their regulations will be implemented immediately; however, their vaccines are not the only ones at risk. Other vaccinations which are facing possible changes in regulations include the RSV, measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.

While Florida is working to get rid of mandatory vaccinations for children, the reason for mandatory vaccinations comes from the concept of Herd Immunity. The idea is that if a significantly large percentage of the population is vaccinated, then the whole population becomes resistant to the infection.

“The people that will be at highest risk will then be the kids of parents who’ve chosen not to vaccinate their kids,” Humble said. “Importantly, there are kids who have medical exemptions, like they can’t get vaccinated, because of an immune system problem… those kids are also at risk.”

As of right now all vaccinations, and updated versions of the COVID-19 vaccines, are available, but it is difficult to get. According to Humble, people are ordering these vaccinations because they do not know the next steps coming from the ACIP.